Thread by @garius

Some have been asking over DM for sources for tips/learning on governance side.

My general advice has been theory is good, but: learn widely and off topic. Ideas and systems problems are universal, only solutions bespoke.

Here's some listens/reads that influence my approach:

Read Railway Accident reports published by the RAIB.

They are THE BEST case studies you will find out there on systems failure in the real world, how human behaviour breaks governance systems and how leadership and management can fail in business.

gov.uk/raib-reports

RAIB reports aren't that technical. Not so much that you can't parse them, especially once you've read a few. But trust me, you will learn so much.

I write them up occasionally for @lonrec. e.g. here:

londonreconnections.com/2018/thirty-ce…

Read or listen to anything and everything on tactical vs strategic leadership within the armed forces that you can find. It is cross-applicable in lots of ways.

I recommend the @wavellroom, but also look into the Dowding System for Air Interception, and Eisenhower's leadership.

For Eisenhower in particular, I'd suggest Eisenhower: In War and Peace by Jean Edward Smith: amazon.co.uk/Eisenhower-Pea…

Shifting to a couple of listens, I HIGHLY recommend two podcasts in particular.

We Crashed, which looks at the rise and fall of WeWork, and 13 Minutes to The Moon, on both the Apollo 11 and 13 missions. wondery.com/shows/we-crash…

and bbc.co.uk/programmes/w13…

Diane Vaughan's "The Challenger Launch Decision: Risky Technology, Culture, and Deviance at NASA" is a MASTERCLASS in how governance can go wrong because of humans, with everyone still thinking it works. If you read one book off this list pick this one. amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01…

"Leading Quietly: An Unorthodox Guide to Doing the Right Thing" by J Badaracco Jnr, on the other hand, is a brilliant look at how to handle management/governance crises effectively, rather than getting shouty and blamey. amazon.co.uk/Leading-Quietl…

Moving onto testing assumptions, one book stands out above all others here: "Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men" by Caroline Criado Perez. Digest it's lessons, but also its look at a business need to test all assumptions. amazon.co.uk/Invisible-Wome…

My previous favourite book in this area also is still worth a read (or a watch, if you like Brad Pitt).

"Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game" by Michael Lewis.

You don't need to understand baseball to learn the system design/data lessons amazon.co.uk/Moneyball-Art-…

A significant part of implementing good governance is getting people onboard, working within limits and making concessions for little credit.

The MASTER of that was Clement Attlee.

Go for "Clement Attlee: The Inevitable Prime Minister" by Michael Jago

amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00…

Successful governance models and their implementation, is at best 30% systems design, 70% human interaction management. That is, social engineering

Kevin Mitnick's "The Art of Deception: Controlling the Human Element of Security" is your starter for ten. amazon.co.uk/Art-Deception-…

And finally, if you like the Youtubes, background watch EVERY Yale lecture you can. So much good stuff there I don't even know where to begin, but importantly:

PICK THE ONES YOU WOULDN'T NATURALLY WATCH FOR BUSINESS.

Biology and science in particular. youtube.com/user/YaleCours…

Also, watch listen and read ANYTHING you can on games design, paper and computer. Also on RUNNING games as a games master.

They're massively transferrable skills. Idle Thumbs podcast with Sid Meier (creater of Civilization) is a great place to start: idlethumbs.net/designernotes/…

Anyway, hope there something there that's of interest. I CANNOT stress this enough though:

It is 100% useful to learn the key principles of BUSINESS system design. But it is EQUALLY important to understand how people work, and how problems are dealt with elsewhere.

MBAs and certifications are useful. Hell, we do some GREAT business degrees and masters at @UniofGreenwich. You will find them linked below.

But they are NOT a magic bullet. Good governance is about using ALL your knowledge to build realistic solutions gre.ac.uk/subjects/busin…

Your ability to be a good leader, manager or governance expert is not based on having a degree in the subject, or on any business, or management, or systems-specific training you have.

They are all tools. The more tools you have, from the more sources, the better you will be.